Can anyone advise please?

[dondon33]

Hi everyone,
I'm new in this area of MN (feels like the new girl at school)

Does anyone have any experience in TTC when your periods are not consistently the same days apart. I used to be a 28 day gal but they've gone a bit crazy e.g...
last period started 11/12/2012 (22 days since the last)
previous ones 19/11/2012 (27 days since the last)
23/10/2012 (26 days since the last)
27/09/2012 (24 days since the last)
03/09/2012 (28 days since the last)

We are going to actively start the TTC part this month but I'm not sure how to time it (says she with 3 DC already, you'd think I'd get the gist by now ) :)
Seriously, if we go by - ovulation takes place around 14 days after the 1st day of last P in a 28 day cycle...when would mine happen?? should I take off the number of days my P is short by eg.... the length between this time was 22 days so that would make me ovulate around day 10-12 ?? or should I average out the lengths between periods and start putting the little swimmers there really early to try and make sure they meet with my egg?? I'm worn out just thinking about it never mind doing it :)

Oh, I'm 34 btw, not sure if it's relevant.

Hi,
2 strategies. . . Shag every other day

Or work out when you ovulate. When you have an irregular cycle, look for signs of ovulation. . . Sharp pain, egg white cervical mucus.

I think 14 days is approximate even if you have a regular cycle length, so if you want to know, you could find out more about fertility awareness.

Good luck!

Thanks Leafmould, I'm liking your first strategy :)
I will check out how to spot more signs when you're ovulating, I notice a few things already like the cervical mucus and an achey pain but to be honest I haven't previously given it much thought.
I was hoping to avoid having to do the taking of temps and the ovulation kits at this stage I know I will get obsessed

Most women ov 10-16 days before their next period.

The easiest thing to do is probably to dtd every other day from the end of your period (or earlier if you want) for about 10 days.

Hello - i would recommend you get an Iphone and they do these brilliant apps called conception calculators - look on the lifestyle apps section. They are fab and you can click the date each month when u start ur period - and again when u finish. Also lets u record when u have sex. I used to have periods all sorts of days apart and it still calculated when my fertile dates were. Good luck

It is almost impossible to work out exactly when ovulation occurs even if the cycle is regular in nature, its far too easy to get the date wrong and "signs" can be misleading. Ovulation is not an exact science and a woman can ovulate earlier, later or not at all in any given cycle. Therefore ovulation does not always take place around two or so weeks before the start of the next period.

Sex two or three times a week throughout the cycle is fine. Do not unduly stress yourself over when you think you are ovulating or are about to; doing so puts yourself under too much pressure otherwise.

Thanks for the replies,

Euro Ok so 10-16 days before next period..... That could potentially make me ovulate before my period is even completely finished if my cycle stays at 22 days apart. Is that possible??

iam Thanks, I don't have an iphone don't want one but I did find an app called 'my days' that you can use on line - I still haven't mastered how to use it properly yet though :)

Attila Do you mean it's difficult naturally to do or even with the technology available to do tests also?
I evidently have no experience of trying to find out neither naturally myself nor by testing.
My 3 other pregnancies were all unplanned and I was very young too so presumably very fertile. I actually doubt and deny the fact that sperm met egg on one occasion, it was a genuine 'how the hell did that happen' moment :)
I'm trying not to stress about it all, just going to take a relaxed approach for a few months and see what happens.

Thanks again everyone x

I've just been to the GP and he's advised sending me to the Gynaecologist for a check up before pregnancy, so appointment is booked and I can discuss ovulation with them too.
It's all a bit strange here where I live, the GP is not like those in the UK where they'll do the check ups, do smears, advise about fertility etc.... Here the GP is just the door to the specialists, I'll have to get used to that. On the plus side though it's all rather quick, no waiting around for appts - a quick call and an appointment next week.